Extractor jaw



H. M. ASHTON Oct. 31, 1967 EXTRACTOR JAW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1965 INVENTOR. /7a77y M flJ/?Z 077 a/ p #TTdF/Vl/Sf United States Patent 3,350,132 EXTRACTOR JAW Harry M. Ashton, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Ashton Automation International, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 477,238 Claims. (Cl. 294-88) This invention relates generally to work stock handling apparatus and, more particularly, to a new and improved extractor jaw assembly for removing and unloading successive workpieces from a work stock forming pres-s such as a punch press, stamping press, or the like.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved extractor jaw assembly which is characterized by constructional and operational simplicity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved extractor jaw assembly of the above character which is of an extremely rugged and durable construction, and it designed such that the movable jaw members thereof are positively prevented from becoming jammed or locked in a closed position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved extractor jaw assembly which is designed such that there is relatively no slop or unnecessary movement between the various movable and immovable component members thereof, and which is not susceptible to malfunction due to accumulation of foreign matter such as grease, dirt and the like thereon.

It is yet another object of the present invention .to provide a new and improved extractor jaw assembly of the above character which may be used in combination with various types of presses and with different types of work stock extractor mechanisms and is thereby characterized by universality of application.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an extractor jaw assembly constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 4-4 thereof; 7

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional I view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 55 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken I along the line 66 thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG- URE 1 showing one of the jaw members thereof in a retracted or open position.

' Broadly speaking, the present invention is directed toward a novel extractor jaw assembly which is adapted to be operatively secured to an extractor mechanism of any suitable type which functions to selectively remove or unload successive workpieces from a work stock forming press such as a punch press, stamping press, or the like. The extractor jaw assembly of the present invention is characterized by a pair of longitudinally movable jaw members that are adapted to be biased into and out of engagement with a pair of striker or camming blocks that cooperate with a pair of spaced parallel channel por- 3,350,132. Patented Oct. 31, 1967 ice tions which are defined by two elongated spaced guide members, whereby to bias the jaw members to and from a position wherein the forward or gripping sections thereof are biased toward one another. The assembly is designed such that upon actuation thereof, the jaw members cannot override the striker blocks, thereby obviating the possibility that these members might be inadvertently jammed or locked in a closed position, a characteristic which was frequently prevalent in similar type extractor jaw assemblies heretofore known and used. Accordingly, the extractor jaw assembly of the present invention will have a long, effective and reliable operational life.

Referring now to the drawings, an extractor jaw assembly 10, constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is shownas comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel guide members 12 and 14 between which a pair of extractor jaw members 16 and 18 are longitudinally slid-able to and from a position lockingly engaging one another in response to energization of an associated piston and cylinder assembly, generally designated by the numeral 20. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the guide members 12 and 14 extend longitudinally from the right end of the piston and cylinder assembly 20 and are rigidly secured thereto by suitable screws, bolts or the like 22. Also secured to the right end of the assembly 20 is a mounting bracket, generally designated 24, and comprising an elongated shaft member 26 which is adapted to he slidably or adjustably secured to a press extractor, a portion of which is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 by phantom lines and designated by the numeral 28. The construction of the press extractor 28 per se may be of any well known design and does not constitute a material part of the present invention, the extractor 28 being merely mentioned to describe the operational environment in which the extractor jaw assembly 10 of the present invention will find particular application.

- As seen in FIGURES l and 4, a generally rectangular shaped frame 30 extends around the guide members 12 and 14 at a position approximately midway between the opposite ends thereof, the frame 30 comprising upper and lower portions 32 and 34, respectively, and spaced parallel side portions '36 and 38. The frame 30 is rigidly secured to the guide members 12 and 14 by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 40 which extend laterally inwardly through the side portions 36 and 38 and are secured to the guide members 12 and 14.

The piston and cylinder assembly 20, which is preferably pneumatically-actuated and is thereby adapted to be energized by any suitable source of pressurized air as is commonly available in factories and the like, includes an elongated cylindrical piston rod member 42 which extends longitudinally between the inboard sides of the guide members 12 and 14, as best seen in FIGURE 2. The outer (right) end of the piston rod 42 is formed with a reduced diameter externally threaded portion 44 which is adapted to be threaded within an internally threaded bore 46 of a cylindrical piston rod adaptor member 48 that extends coaxially from the outer end of the piston rod 42, as best seen in FIGURE 3. Rigidly secured to the outer (right) end of the piston rod adaptor member 48 by an axially extending, externaly threaded stud member 50 and nut 52 is a generally rectangular shaped jaw carriage member 54. As best seen in FIGURE 6, the upper and lower ends of the carriage member 54 are formed with clevis portions 56 and 58 which define rectangular shaped recesses 60 and 62, respectively, within which the upper and lower jaw members 16 and 18 are pivotably secured by pivot pins 64 and 66 that extend through aligned bores 68, 70 and 72, 74 in the carriage member 54 and jaw members 16 and 18, respectively. A pair of set or locking screws 76 and 78 are threadedly mounted within the clevis portions 56 and 58 of the carriage member 54 and function to preclude any axial movement of the pivot pins 64 and 66 relative thereto.

Referring now in detail to the construction of the jaw members 16 and 18, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 7, the members 16 and 18 are formed with forward gripping sections 80 and 82, respectively, and with rearward guide sections 84 and 86, respectively, the forward sections 80, 82 being angularly offset in spaced vertical planes relative to the rearward portions 84, 86 in the manner best illustrated in FIGURE 1. It will be seen that the jaw members 16 and 18 are pivotably secured to the carriage member 54 by having the pivot pins 64 and 66 extend through the rearward portions 84, 86 thereof substantially intermediate the opposite ends of the portions 84 and 86. The outer (right) ends of the jaw members 16 and 18 are provided with jaw insert support sections 88 and 90 which extend laterally outwardly from the sides of the gripping sections 80 and 82 of the members 16 and 18, as best seen in FIGURE 2. Each of the support sections 88 and 90 is provided with a pair of jaw inserts, generally designated 92, which preferably have serrated face portions to facilitate gripping work stock therebetween and which are arranged on the confronting sides, i.e., upper and lower sides, of the sections 90 and 88, respectively, in vertical alignment, whereby the inserts 92 on the section 88 will engage the inserts 92 on the section 90 when the jaw members 16 and 18 are oriented in a position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The inserts 92 include externally threaded mounting sections 94 which extend through the support sections 88 and 90 and are rigidly secured thereto by suitable nuts, generally designated 96, whereby the inserts 92 may be easily replaced at such. time as they become excessively worn.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 5, the rearward end sections 84 and 86 of the jaw members 16 and 18 are formed with somewhat enlarged cross-sectional guide portions 98 and 100, respectively. Formed on the opposite sides of the portions 98 and 100 is a pair of guide boss portions 102 and 104, respectively, (see FIGURE that are adapted to contiguously and slidably engage the inboard sides of the guide members 12 and 14, as will hereinafter be described. The upper and lower sides of the jaw portions 100 and 98, respectively, are formed with semi-circular recessed portions 106 and 108 which function to prevent any interference between the jaw members 16 and 18 and the piston rod 42 during operation of the assembly 10.

In accordance with the principles of the present inven tion, the guide portions 102 of the jaw member 16 and the portions 104 of the jaw member 18 are longitudinally slidably disposed within elongated guideways or guide channels 110 and 112 that are formed on the inboard sides of the guide members 12, 14, respectively, and are substantially coextensive thereof. As best seen in FIG- URE 4, the left ends of the channels 110 and 112 are substantially rectangular in transverse cross sections and extend longitudinally along the inboard sides of the guide members 12 and 14 substantially equi-distant from the upper and lower edges thereof, the heights of the channels 110 and 112 being identical and equal to approximately one-third the overall heights of the guide members 12 and 14; however, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 7, the upper and lower sides 116 and 118 of the channels 110 and 112 are generally arcuate in shape toward the outer (right) ends of the guide members 12, 14 and curve upwardly and downwardly, respectively, toward the upper and lower sides of the guide members 12 and 14, whereby the heights of the channels 110 and 112 become equivalent to the overall heights of the guide nembers 12 and 14, as seen at 120 in FIGURE 3. A pair of generally heart-shaped camming or striker blocks 122 and 124 are secured to the inboard sides of the guide members 12 and 14, respectively, by suitable screws,

. bolts or the like 126 at positions adjacent the outer (right) ends of the members 12 and 14, as best seen in FIGURES 1 through 3. The striker blocks 122 and 124 include arcuately shaped upper and lower striker or camming surfaces 128 and 130 (see FIGURES 3 and 5), which function to divide the right ends of the channels and 112 into upper and lower channel portions 132 and 134, respectively, whereby the right ends of the channels 110 and 112 are generally bifurcated. It may be noted that although the striker blocks 122 and 124 are shown herein as being separate members which are secured to the inboard sides of the guide members 12 and 14 by the screws 126, it will be apparent that the blocks 122, 124 may be integral with the members 12 and 14 if desired. The upper and lower surfaces of the guide portions 100 and 98 of the jaw members 18 and 16, respectively, are formed with a pair of arcuate surface portions which are adapted to contiguously engage the striker surface portions and 128 of the striker blocks 122 and 124 during operation of the assembly 10. In particluar, the upper and lower surfaces of the portions 100 and 98 are formed with first surface portions 136 and 138 which contiguously engage the surfaces 130 and 128, respectively, when the jaws 16 and 18 are disposed in the position illustrated by the solid lines in FIGURE 3. Arcuate surface portions 140 and 142 are also formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the sections 100 and 98 and are adapted to contiguously engage the surfaces 130 and 128 when the jaw members 16 and 18 are disposed in the position illustrated by the phantom lines in FIGURE 3.

It will be noted that in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the half width of the striker blocks 122 and 124, i.e., the distances w/ 2 in FIGURE 3, is sufficiently great to prevent the guide portions 98 and 100 of the jaw members 16 and 18 from inadvertently overriding the striker blocks 122 and 124 and possibly becomingv jammed or locked in their forward or gripping position. In other words, the serrated workpiece gripping surfaces of the jaw insert members 92 on the jaw members 16 and 18 are disposed sufficiently below and above the pivotal axes of the pivot pins 64 and 66 such that these surfaces will engage one another before the surface portions 138 and 136 of the jaw members 16 and 18 override the arcuate surface portions 128 and 130 of the striker blocks 122 and 124. Accordingly, the assembly 10 will not be susceptible to malfunction due to such jaw overriding by the members 16, 18 and will therefore have a long and effective operational life.

To facilitate correlating the various hereinabove described component members of the extractor jaw assembly 10 of the present invention, a brief description of an exemplary operational cycle thereof will now be given.

Assuming that the extractor jaw assembly 10 is mounted on a suitable extractor mechanism, for example, the mechanism 28, which is in a retracted position, that the piston and cylinder assembly 20 is connected with a suitable source of pressurized air and is momentarily in an energized condition, and that the jaw members 16 and 18 and piston rod member 42 are disposed in their respective positions illustrated in FIGURE 1, operation of the assembly 10 is initiated upon deenergization of the piston and cylinder assembly 20, at which time the piston rod member 42 will be retracted or moved axially toward the assembly 20. As the piston rod 42 is thus biased, the jaw carriage member 54 is simultaneously moved toward the assembly 20, thereby biasing the jaw members 16 and 18 toward the left (see FIGURES 1 and 2). As the jaw members 16, 18 move toward the assembly 20, the guide boss portions 102 and 104 thereof will be biased from the position indicated by the solid lines in FIGURES l and 3 to the position indicated by the phantom lines in these figures, whereby the arcuate surface portions of the upper and lower edges 116 and 118 of the guide channels 110 and 112 will cam or guide the guide portions 102, 104 toward one another, resulting in the jaw member 16 being pivoted counter-clockwise about the pivot pin 64 (see FIGURE 1), and the jaw member 18 being pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 66 in FIGURE 1. Accordingly, the gripping sections 80 and 82 of the jaw members 16 and 18 will be biased apart to enable a portion of the workpiece which is to be extracted from an associated press or the like to be inserted therebetween. The piston rod member 42 continues to move toward the assembly until such time as the left ends of the jaw members 16 and 18 abut against the right end of the assembly 20, at which time the jaw members 16 and 18 are oriented in the position representatively indicated by the jaw member 16 in FIGURE 7.

As such time as it is desired to extract the workpiece from the press, the associated extractor mechanism 28 is moved toward the press and the piston and cylinder assembly 20 is energized, whereby the piston rod member 42 will move toward the right in FIGURES l and 2, the carriage member 54 simultaneously moving toward the 'right and thereby biasing the jaw members 16 and 18 away from the outer (right) ends of the guide members 12 and 14. As the surface portions 140 and 142 of the jaw members 18 and 16 engage the arcuate striker surfaces 130 and 128 of the striker blocks 122 and 124, the jaw member 16 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 64 and the jaw member 18 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 66. As the piston rod member 42 moves further toward the right, the surface portions 136 and 138 of the jaw members 18 and 16 engage the striker surfaces 130 and 128, respectively, whereby the jaw members 16 and 18 will be biased to the position indicated by the solid lines in FIGURES l and 3, at which time the gripping sections 80 and 82 of the jaw members 16 and 18 will be biased toward each other, thereby forcing the jaw inserts 92 into engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of a portion of the workpiece to be removed or extracted from the press. After this procedure has been completed, the press extractor mechanism 28, together with the extractor jaw assembly 10 and the workpiece to be extracted thereby, is traversed away from the press to a predetermined position, for example, to a new work station, conveying line, tote box or the like. Thereafter, the piston cylinder assembly 20 may be deenergized, thereby releasing the workpiece from between the jaw members 16 and 18 and positioning these members preparatory to the next operational cycle of the assembly 10, as hereinabove described.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel extractor jaw assembly 10 which is characterized by constructional and operational simplicity. Accordingly, the jaw assembly 10 of the present invention will be easy to assemble and economical to commercially manufacture. A particular feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the assembly 10 may be operatively associated with virtually all types of forming pressed and extractor mechanisms, and with only slight variations in the configuration of the jaw members 16 and 18, will accommodate workpieces of substantially any configuration; hence, the assembly 10 will find universality of application.

While it will be apparent that the exemplary embodiment herein" illustrated is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the extractor jaw assembly 10 of the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extractor jaw assembly,

a pair of elongated spaced parallel guide members,

means on each of said members defining an elongated channel section terminating at one end in upper and lower channel portions,

a pair of jaw members each having a forward gripping section and a rearward guide section,

a carriage member longitudinally movable relative to said guide members and pivotably supporting said jaw members,

piston means adjacent said guide members for selectively biasing said carriage member and said jaw members longitudinally thereof,

guide means on each of said jaw members disposed in said channel sections whereby longitudinal movement of said jaw members in one direction will pivot said jaw members such that said gripping sections thereof move toward each other and longitudinal movement of said jaw members in the opposite direction will pivot said jaw members such that said gripping sections thereof will move away from each other, and

camming means disposed in said channel sections for limiting pivotal movement of said gripping sections of said jaw members toward each other to prevent said jaw members from becoming locked in a closed position.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said camming means comprises a pair of striker block members disposed in said channel sections.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said striker block members define striker surfaces which cam said rearward guide sections of said jaw members away from one another upon preselected longitudinal movement of said jaw members relative to said guide members, whereby to bias said gripping sections of said jaw members to a closed position.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein the heights of said striker blocks are sufficiently great to prevent said guide sections of said jaw members from overriding said striker blocks upon longitudinal movement of said jaw members relative thereto.

5. In an extractor jaw assembly,

a pair of elongated spaced parallel guide members,

each of said guide members being formed with an elongated longitudinally extending channel on the inboard side thereof,

each of said channels being bifurcated at one end,

a piston and cylinder assembly including an elongated piston member longitudinally movable between said guide members,

a carriage member rigidly secured to one end of said piston member and movable longitudinally therewith, i

a pair of jaw members each having a forward gripping section and a rearward guide section and each being pivotably secured to said carriage member, and

each of said guide sections having a guide portion disposed within said channels of said guide members, whereby longitudinal movement of said piston member toward the outer ends of said guide members will pivot said jaw members such that said gripping sections thereof move toward each other and longitudinal movement of said piston rod member toward the opposite ends of said guide members will pivot said jaw members such that said gripping sections thereof will move away from each other.

6. In an extractor jaw assembly,

a piston and cylinder assembly comprising an elongated cylindrical piston member,

a pair of elongated spaced parallel guide members arranged on the opposite sides of said piston member and rigidly secured at one end to said piston and cylinder assembly,

each of said guide members being formed with an elongated longitudinally extending channel on the inboard side thereof,

the ends of said channels spaced from said piston and cylinder assembly defining upwardly and downwardly directed striker surfaces,

a carriage member rigidly secured to the outer end of said piston member and movable longitudinally therewith,

upper and lower jaw members each having a forward gripping section and a rearward guide section and each being pivotably secured to said carriage member,

each of said jaw members having a removably mounted jaw insert secured to the gripping section thereof,

each of said guide sections of said jaw members having a pair of guide portions extending laterally outwardly therefrom and disposed within said channels of said guide members, whereby longitudinal movement of said carriage member away from the outer ends of said guide members engages said guide portions of said upper jaw member with said upper striker surfaces and said guide portions of said lower jaw member with said lower striker surfaces such that said upper jaw member is pivoted clockwise relative to said carriage member and said lower jaw member is pivoted counterclockwise relative to said carriage member whereby to engage said jaw inserts on said jaw members with a workpiece.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means defining said strikers surfaces in each of said channels comprises a generally heart-shaped striker block.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said jaw members are pivotably secured to said carriage member by pivot pins which extend through said jaw members substantially midway between the opposite ends thereof.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the half-width of said striker blocks is sufiiciently great to prevent said guide sections of said jaw members from overriding said striker block members upon longitudinal movement of said jaw members relative thereto.

10. In an extractor jaw assembly,

a pair of guide members,

means on each of said guide members defining an elongated channel section,

each of said channel section-s terminating at one end in a bifurcated portion including upper and lower arcu- :ately shaped striker surfaces,

a pair of jam members each of which comprises a gripping section and a pair of guide portions,

said guide portions being slidably disposed within said channel sections,

means for pivotably supporting each of said jaw members, and

means for biasing said jaw members longitudinally of said guide members,

said gripping sections being engageable with each other upon preselected longitudinal movement of said jaw members relative to said guide members,

said gripping sections being oriented relative to the pivotal axes of said jaw members such that they will engage each other prior to said guide portions overriding said upper and lower striker surfaces, whereby to prevent said jaw members from becoming locked in a closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,165 11/1901 Quinby 294-115 3,137,397 6/1964 Nicoll 294-116 X FOREIGN PATENTS 962,487 7/ 1964 Great Britain. 968,137 8/1964 Great Britain.

G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN EXTRACTOR JAW ASSEMBLY, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPACED PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS, MEANS ON EACH OF SAID MEMBERS DEFINING AN ELONGATED CHANNEL SECTION TERMINATING AT ONE END IN UPPER AND LOWER CHANNEL PORTIONS, A PAIR OF JAW MEMBERS EACH HAVING A FORWARD GRIPPING SECTION AND A REARWARD GUIDE SECTION, A CARRIAGE MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AND PIVOTABLY SUPPORTING SAID JAW MEMBERS, PISTON MEANS ADJACENT SAID GUIDE MEMBERS FOR SELECTIVELY BIASING SAID CARRIAGE MEMBER AND SAID JAW MEMBERS LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, GUIDE MEANS ON EACH OF SAID JAW MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SAID CHANNEL SECTIONS WHEREBY LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID JAW MEMBERS IN ONE DIRECTIONS WALL PIVOT SAID JAW MEMBERS SUCH THAT SAID GRIPPING SECTIONS THEREOF MOVE TOWARD EACH OTHER AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID JAW MEMBERS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WILL PIVOT SAID JAW MEMBERS SUCH THAT SAID GRIPPING SECTIONS THEREOF WILL MOVE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND CAMMING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CHANNEL SECTIONS FOR LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID GRIPPING SECTIONS OF SAID JAW MEMBERS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO PREVENT SAID JAW MEMBERS FROM BECOMING LOCKED IN A CLOSED POSITION. 